Dancing for the Stars Raises Thousands for Boys and Girls Club

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Inagural "Dancing for the Stars" Raises Over $130,000 for Boys and Girls Club of Central Arizona

PRESCOTT- Recently, the Boys and Girls Club of Central Arizona announced April’s inaugural “Dancing for the Stars” event raised over $130,000 for the organization.

”We feel honored and we feel blessed,” Boys and Girls Club of Central Arizona Development Director Kristen Kerns said in a phone interview. “Just so grateful to all of our sponsors, everybody that attended, everybody that watched from home, all of our dancers both professional and celebrity.”

A popular reality show on CBS, “Dancing with the Stars” features celebrities dancing with professionals and battling others for the top prize. A similar type of idea for a fundraiser came about when a colleague of the Boys and Girls Club noticed the Arizona Kidney Foundation in Phoenix doing a similar function.

“Prescott was wanting something new and different as a fundraiser for the community.” Kerns said. “We really wanted to try to find something that was very interactive with people.”

After receiving permission to mimic the fundraiser, the Boys and Girls Club worked for seven months planning the event and recruiting local celebrities to participate such as Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce CEO Marnie Uhl, who jumped at the opportunity from being a fan of the show.

”It’s kind of a perfect opportunity to support an organization that I love in addition to doing something kind of crazy that I’ve watched other people do for years,” Uhl said in a phone interview. “The minute she (Kerns) asked I said yes.”

Uhl, along with other competitors, battled in front of over five-hundred audience members-with hundreds more watching on television-for the people’s choice award and judge’s choice award as well as other prizes such as best costume, which Uhl and her dancing partner won.

Broadcast of event provided by Prescott Media Center

“The audience, the cheering they did for all of the dancers, you felt such support that they were here to cheer you on and not to critique you,” said Uhl who mentioned she started practicing for the night in November. “It was just over in a heartbeat the way it feels…it was fun and exciting.”

Uhl, along with the other contestants involved, had a direct effect on the success of the fundraiser and have the honor of forever being the inaugural participants.

“The event was amazing,” Uhl said. “I think those of us that participated this first year out, not knowing how it was going to go, to have success, it just makes us feel honored to be a part of this inaugural fundraising event that I sure will go on for many years.”

According, to Kerns, planning for next year’s “Dancing for the Stars” has already started and looks to be bigger and better with new celebrities participating. As for the money raised in the inaugural event, Kerns mentioned the organization will use the money for youth programs after school and during the summer.